Check out this short video from Minnesota Public Radio on winter bike commuting.  It shows you that winter biking commuting in colder climates like Michigan can actually be fun and not too complicated.

Mark Maynard recently wrote this post on a grassroots effort underway by several religious leaders to bring better transit to the eastern side of Washtenaw county.  In addition, the group is interested in connecting Wayne County to Washtenaw County.

According to Mark Maynard, The top issues discussed at the meeting were:

Washtenaw County Bus Service
• Outside the city of Ann Arbor, funding must come from municipalities
• Financial difficulties for some municipalities threatens service to entire eastern part of the county
• Idea of countywide funding being considered for vote next year (MOSES’ sister organization in Kalamazoo, ISAAC, led successful campaign for countywide transit funding)
• More regional funding would allow bus service where it is needed, not just where there is funding

Washtenaw County – Wayne County Bus Connection
• For several years, there has been no bus service from Belleville to either the west or east
• AATA could provide a route from Ypsilanti to Belleville, and the SMART system could also connect to Belleville

Ann Arbor Detroit Commuter Rail
• Planning continues for pilot program that would operate commuter trains on Amtrak and freight lines
• About 10 trains per day in both directions
• Likely stops would be Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Metro Airport, Dearborn, and Detroit/New Center
• Requires cooperation between Washtenaw Co, Wayne Co, and the City of Detroit

Ann Arbor-Howell Commuter Rail
• Would ease congestion on US23
• Railroad owner and City of Ann Arbor are seriously discussing
• Service could begin within 2 years

The next meeting of this organization is Thursday, January 8th at 6:30pm at the First Congregational Church of Christ on N Adams @ Emmet in Ypsilanti.